102 ON THE AURICULA. — ITS CULTURE, PROPERTIES, ETC. 



dunghill ; but it is better not to apply it to plants without diluting 

 it, as sometimes, from salts contained in the dung, it proves injurious. 

 And now we arrive at sap, which is a clear fluid; indeed, I may 

 add, so clear is it, that when a Rose-tree was once watered with 

 indigo-water the fluid was seen to pass up it. As it flows upwards 

 it becomes thicker, and in fact that is the only difference between it 

 and water, excepting some small matter collected before entering the 

 plant ; as it rises it passes into the leaves, where, on the upper side 

 only, by the action of light and heat, it is turned into pulp, and, 

 passing into the leaf-stalks, and so into the root, throws out the 

 refuse material, from which no nourishment can be derived. 



ARTICLE III. 



ON THE AURICULA.— ITS CULTURE, PROPERTIES, ETC. 



BY MR. WILLIAM HARRISON, 

 SECRETARY TO THE KELTON FLORISTS* SOCIETY. 



Of all the beauties of Nature which engage the particular care and 

 attention of the competing florist, none is more worthy of his regard 

 and anxiety than the Auricula. 



It is the Primula of Linnaeus ; and, according to his beautiful 

 arrangement and classification, it belongs to the fifth class Pentan- 

 dria, and first order Monogynia, and is one of the thirty- five genera 

 of monopetalous plants which contain the capsule within the flower. 

 To these genera belong the Primula, Phlox, Cyclamen, Convolvulus, 

 &c. They are called monopetalous, because the corolla consists of 

 one entire petal, and only partly divided into segments by deep 

 indentations from the exterior circumference. The calyx of these is 

 called monophyllous, because it consists of one entire leaf encircling 

 the external base of the flower, like a funnel. 



The geographical distribution of the Auricula is over all the moun- 

 tainous parts of middle and southern Europe ; but especially on the 

 Alpine heights of Switzerland it is found in a wild state, growing- 

 abundantly on the steep and rocky acclivities, and producing flowers 

 of a clear bright yellow colour. In these situations it is, early in 

 Autumn, deeply buried under a thick covering of snow, which pro- 

 tects it from the severities of the frost in that ungenial climate, and 

 also from being stimulated into premature growth by the influence of 



